Rachel Simmons

Social media forces girls to bear witness to painful realities of relationship that were previously hidden from view. It is a new kind of TMI, or 'too much information': publicly posted photographs of an outing or party you did not attend, or a personal web page like Formspring, can send a girl into paroxysms of anxiety and grief.

American Author

Tom Shales

Jerry Seinfeld is amazing in many ways, not the least of them his ability to find humor, and convincing us to find it, too, in the million-and-two details about modern life that under different circumstances might send us into paroxysms of rage.

American Writer

Steven Levy

Technology writers are seldom subject to frenzied, Beatlemania-esque paroxysms of public attention. June 29, 2007, was the exception. I was in the wrong place - Apple's Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan - with the right device. The iPhone.

American Journalist

Use 'paroxysm' to describe an intense episode of an emotion or activity, suggesting it's extreme.

Intensity Indicator

'Paroxysm' often implies the event is sudden and may surprise those around.

Unexpected Eruption

A 'paroxysm' typically does not last a long time; it's a brief outburst.

Brief Duration

In medicine, 'paroxysm' can refer to a sudden recurrence or intensity in symptoms.

Medical Context

Can describe a repetitive action like coughing or sneezing in medical contexts.

Describe Symptom

Use 'paroxysm' when an emotional reaction is strong and cannot be controlled easily.

Uncontrollable Emotion

In psychology, 'paroxysm' may relate to an extreme change in behavior or emotion.

Psychology Usage

 then there was really only one fate possible. So, there I was -- in a sort of paroxysm of horror. But I took the job and I went on looking at these vases.

Luke Syson: How I...

 ah well I have marvelous news news that will astound and delight you news that will send you into a paroxysm of joy